HYDERABAD:
Langar Houz police
arrested two offenders who were targeting cab drivers and stealing their valuables while posing as
customers
.
The accused are Mohammed Abdul Salman, 24, a car driver from Tolichowki, and Shaik Lal Shareef, 38, a centring worker from Hakeempet.
At 5.30pm on Wednesday, the duo booked Ola cab of Hussain Bin Sayeed Sharfi from Saptagiri Colony near Retibowli to RGI Airport. The duo got into the cab and asked the driver to take them to an adjacent lane where a friend will join them.
After the cabbie drove the vehicle to the lane which was deserted, the duo suddenly started attacking him. “They punched me on my face and neck. Once of them held my hands and the other offender took my cell phone and Rs 7,000 cash. After stealing the valuables, they got out of the car and fled on a bike which was parked nearby,” the victim told police.
Alerted by the victim via dial 100, the police team quickly reached the call and brought him to the police station. Cops coordinated with Ola staff and found out that the cell number used by the accused to book the cab was switched off. The Ola operator also told police that the particular mobile number was registered with Ola on February 5 and has no prior transactions.
Cops then asked Ola operator to alert them if the accused made any more cab bookings. Within a short while, the Ola staff alerted police that the accused made another cab booking from Brundhavan Colony in Hakeempet to RGI Airport.
Police coordinated with Ola and their cab driver to lay a trap. However, in the last moment, the accused cancelled the booking. While the cops are still waiting there, the accused made another booking from the same pick-up point. Cops again coordinated with the cab driver and caught the accused who arrived there on a bike.
During the preliminary probe, police came to know that Salman who earlier worked as a a cab driver has criminal record. During the interrogation, police found out that Salman has committed about 10 such offences in the city, robbing the cab drivers.